The new Astro Orbiter holds 12 rockets, while the old one only held 8 rockets. The new design was made and designed by the same people who made Dumbo.REPORTED: Darcy Fraser 18 JAN 98
There are now twelve rockets on the Astro Orbiter because it is not the same ride. The original AO now has satellite dishes attached to where the rockets were and still sits above where the loading platform for the new Rocket Rods will be. There are twelve Astro Orbiter "rockets" on the new ride with each rocket bearing the symbol of an astrological sign, representing the astrological calendar. The base of the ride is divided into twelve sections and bears the same twelve astrological symbolsCONFIRMED: David Enertson 23 MAR 98

There are some rocks around the Astro-Orbiter. When Disney was working on creating them, they found that they ordered some steel reinforcing rods wrong - they were too short. So Disney took some of the steel rods from one of the Main Street Electrical Parade floats, and used them in the rocks.REPORTED: Benjamin Rockwell 29 JUN 98